
Dr Virginie Lam
Restoration of myelin genesis with dietary-derived bioactive lipids: An opportunity to improve disease outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis
Raine Priming Grant
$208,060.00
2022 - 2023
Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University
Dr Virginie Lam is an Early Career Research Fellow based at Curtin University where she is investigating nutritional-focused and pharmacological interventions that can modulate neurovascular and cognitive function in neurodegenerative disorders. She was awarded a Raine Priming Grant to explore whether providing specific fatty acids through diet can improve disease outcomes for people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
MS is an incurable disorder of the central nervous system that features progressive loss of myelin (the brain’s protective covering), which ultimately results in neurological damage. In people who haveMS, the body's ability to produce and replace myelin, the fatty coating that protects nerves, is impaired. Over time, this causes permanent loss of cell function resulting in loss of motor control, cognitive dysfunction and memory loss. As myelin is mainly made up of fat (or 'lipids'), the effective production of myelin requires large quantities of lipids. Thus the primary aim of this project was to explore if the provision of specific bioactive myelin lipids, through diet, will support the process of remyelination to delay, prevent or reverse disease progression in MS, using animal models of MS.
Dr Lam’s findings have revealed a potential new opportunity, that is natural, safe and well-tolerated, that supports remyelination and attenuates disease progression of multiple sclerosis. The preclinical results are being used to inform a clinical trial to study the efficacy of myelin-lipid therapy in patients exhibiting the earliest signs of demyelinating disease, such as high-risk clinically isolated syndrome or early MS.
This research may provide a new course of treatment for those suffering from MS, and has also facilitated collaborative and training opportunities with internationally recognised organisations, such as the University College London, University of Manchester, and University of Auckland.
Dr Lam explained "The Raine Priming Grant has played a vital role in furthering my mission toward potentially finding a cure for multiple sclerosis (MS) and improving outcomes for those affected by the condition. With the funding provided, we completed a series of crucial preclinical animal experiments, and lipid profiling in blood samples collected from individuals with MS. Our findings thus far have significantly enhanced our understanding of the importance of phospholipid homeostasis in both the risk of developing and progression of MS.
Our overarching research program addresses one of the most pressing challenges in MS research, that is, identifying restorative therapies capable of restoring myelin homeostasis. The support from the grant has facilitated fruitful collaborations with leading experts in the fields of MS, neurodegeneration, and neuroimaging, both nationally and internationally. Additionally, I believe it has provided a platform to showcase the important research being conducted in Western Australia, particularly by lab-based early to mid-career researchers."